Henry Schein reports record results for Q4 2012

Henry Schein has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2012, during which its net sales rose by 2.4 percent year over year to a record total of $2.4 billion (1.55 billion pounds).

The dental and healthcare supplier was able to achieve this benchmark performance despite negative economic trends in key territories such as Europe, which had a dampening effect on dental product sales.

Regardless of this, the firm's sales for the full-year period came to $8.9 billion, up by 4.8 percent on 2011, with further growth of between five and 11 per cent in terms of earnings per share expected to be achieved in 2013.

Stanley Bergman, chairman and chief executive officer of Henry Schein, said: "Once again we believe we gained market share during the quarter in each of our business groups, driven by strong domestic results across the board and despite some challenges in certain overseas markets."

The company is one of the largest healthcare businesses in the world and employs more than 15,000 members of staff, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 17 percent since going public in 1995.